Airport officials seize Rp 1.15b

MEDAN: Polonia Airport customs officials have foiled an attempt to smuggle Rp 1.15 billion ($143,750) in cash, three yellow-crested parrots and three arwana fish out of the country, Antara reported.

Chief inspector at the Polonia Customs Office Abdul Rachman said Monday that his men made the arrests in the last two weeks.

He said that on Jan. 2O, customs personnel confiscated Rp 800 million in cash about to be smuggled out of the country by eight people, and on Feb. 20 a Singaporean tried to leave with Rp 40 million without the necessary papers from Bank Indonesia.

Last Sunday customs personnel seized Rp 100 million in cash from two Malaysians, bringing the total amount that has been confiscated to Rp 1.15 billion.

"For the time being, the money is being kept at Bank Indonesia," Rachman said, adding that the alleged smugglers were being questioned.

Under Government Regulation Number 18/1998, a maximum of Rp 5 million is allowed to be taken out of or brought into the country without prior permission from Bank Indonesia.